Stop me if you’ve heard this before: McGowan Fine Art is closing its doors.
Now don’t worry, it’s not for good like we wrote about back in May when owner Sarah Chaffee made the difficult decision that she needed to shut down the Concord art institution due to financial hardships. That was quickly nipped in the bud when people came out of the woodwork to offer just about anything you can imagine to make sure the gallery stayed open.
We’re just talking about at the Hills Avenue location McGowan has called home since opening in 1980, because the gallery is finally set to make the big move to 2 Phenix Ave. this month.
The plan, as of last week and one that could most certainly change, is for the gallery to have its last day at 10 Hills Ave. on Nov. 17, and then undertake the daunting task of moving furniture, artwork and anything else that has collected over the last 37 years to the new location over the ensuing few days with the hopes to be up and running by the end of that week – right after Thanksgiving.
“It will probably be a mess,” Chaffee joked.
But before McGowan says goodbye to the only home its ever known, there’s one more show hanging on the gallery’s walls. Closer features the work of Bert Yarborough and Gary Haven Smith, a pair of artists who have been part of the gallery’s catalog for longer than Chaffee has been around.
“I thought it would be fun to do a show with Bert and Gary,” Chaffee said. “They are two of the best abstract artists that New Hampshire had.”
It’s a bittersweet show though, and not just because it’s the last at Hills Avenue. Smith passed away in September after an extended illness and there was some discussion with his wife, Susan Pratt Smith, about whether or not she wanted Chaffee to go through with the show. Yarborough also offered to back out of the show if the gallery wanted to do a homage to Smith. In the end, the original plan of pairing the two artists together went forward and it’s an exhibit you don’t want to miss.
Chaffee went to Smith’s studio and picked out a few pieces she wanted to put in the show and even had to name a few, which was no easy task since Smith was known for having a way with words – especially when it came to his life’s work.
He specialized in creations that used granite and slate. The show includes one of the last table top sculptures that Smith created, as well as other pieces that neither Chaffee or his wife know exactly when they were created.
“He didn’t make very much in the last year,” Chaffee said.
Yarborough chose the name for the show a long time ago and as Chaffee put it, “I think it’s the perfect word.” As for Yarborough’s paintings, they’re hard to explain (as you can probably tell). You really have to see it to appreciate it.
And if you can’t make it to McGowan between now and the expected closing date, don’t worry. Closer will be on display at the new location through Dec. 22. If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can check out the exhibit at both places and see which setup you like better.
As for how things will go once the 2 Phenix Ave. gallery is up and running remains to be seen.
“We will maintain the same hours, but I expect things will change with the new space, but we’ll have to figure that out,” Chaffee said.
